The People at Work theme encourages the visual, audio or video documentation of all manner of occupations that are undertaken across the African continent … the usual and unusual, the banal and the extraordinary. These can be formal and informal, contemporary or ancient, business-oriented or creative. There are special prizes for photo essays[1] that capture Women at Work and Rare and Endangered Work Practices. Photo essays allow photographers, and (through their photographs) the viewer, to explore the full range of activities, ideas, and concepts encapsulated in one subject. The organisers have drawn up a list of UNESCO ‘s Intangible Cultural Heritage to add inspiration: http://bit.ly/WLA17Suggestions

The competition runs from the 1st October to 30th November 2017 and entries are welcome from anywhere on the continent and beyond. Winners will be announced around February 2018.

What prizes are up for grabs?

Photo Essay Prizes : Rare, Fading or Threatened Traditional Craft, Style or Way of Working US$200

Additional prizes in each category: a Wiki Loves Africa power pack + t-shirt

Are there events happening near me?

Everyone can contribute relevant photos from anywhere on the globe. Additionally people, groups or organisations are encouraged to host a series of events to build Wikipedia savvy communities around the competition. These events take the form of introductory workshops, photographic excursions and upload sessions and are aimed at encouraging an ongoing pride in local heritage and cultural practice, as well as to foster a culture of contribution to the internet to shake up the single story of Africa.

Currently there are 13 countries taking part in this focused way. The hosts of these interventions range from established communities in Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tunisia to fledgling volunteer groups and single enthusiasts in Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Specific detail about these events will become available on the Facebook page and the Wikimedia Commons pages.